Kappi Squad director Belraj found dead in hotel room days after web series release

KOTTAYAM/KOCHI: Young filmmaker Belraj, popularly known as Chegu, was found dead in a hotel room in Kakkanad. He was 28. He was the son of G. Suresh, a former district committee member of the Karshaka Sangham and a member of the CPM's Vazhoor area committee, and a native of Kalarickal House in Manimala, Kottayam. He died of a heart attack.

Belraj was the director of the web series Kappi Squad, which premiered on JioHotstar on Thursday. He was staying with his colleague Sreekanth in an apartment near Satellite Township in Padamughal.

On Saturday morning, Belraj did not wake up despite his alarm ringing repeatedly. His friends later rushed him to the hospital, but he was declared dead.

Belraj had worked as an assistant director in several films, including Nizhal, Madhuram and Daakini. Kappi Squad was his debut web series, and four episodes have been released so far. The series had been receiving a positive response from viewers, making his sudden demise all the more shocking. Belraj got married on September 14.

He is survived by his mother, Smitha, an employee of the Vellavoor Cooperative Bank; sister, K. S. Soja, of Aluva UC College; and wife, Athira, an IT professional based in Chennai. The body will be kept at the mortuary of Kodungoor TMM Hospital after the post-mortem examination. The funeral will be held at his residence on Monday at 11 am.